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Hamming it up in Volusia Posted: 2007 Apr 13 - 00:07
 By Jeanne Willard Staff writer Amateur radio - more popularly called ham radio - has been around for more than 100 years. At a recent weekly "picnic bench" ham radio session held at Riverfront Park in South Daytona, members of the Daytona Beach Amateur Radio Association showed the public what "hamming" is all about. "Ham radio is for everyone no matter what the skill level," said John Lo Cicero, a member of the Daytona Beach Amateur Radio Association. In addition to the weekly sessions the club offers radio demonstrations and educational programs for area organizations and schools such as Campbell Middle School in Daytona Beach. Diane Clow's special education class of sixth, seventh and eighth graders talked to ham operators around Volusia County recently, when members George Silver, Paul Milward and John Lo Cicero visited the school. The type of ham radio demonstrated to the class was a hand-held FM repeater. A signal is sent out from the transmitter to an antenna on top of a tall building and the signal is rebroadcast to another handheld radio, said Mr. Silver. The students were eager to get on the radio and talk to whoever was on the airwaves. Justin Richardson, 13, spoke to Cliff Fraser, 81, whose call sign is KE4HIY. Mr. Fraser, who has been a Ham operator for 12 years, encouraged Justin to get his ham radio license. "The world is yours," Mr. Fraser said, "when you can talk to people thousands of miles away." Zachery Davis, 15, who said he's a NASCAR fan, thinks he'd like to learn how to be a so-called "ham." "I could talk to friends, miles apart," he said after talking to Mike - KI4OSC from Volusia County. It's an activity that benefits the individual as well as the community, Mr. Lo Cicero said. During the 2004 hurricane season local Ham operators set up radios in shelters and in the Volusia Emergency Operations Center, providing critical communication services when the power was out. All that's needed is a radio, antenna and a battery, said Mr. Milward. "When all else fails, amateur radio gets the message out," said Mr. Silver, explaining that ham radio equipment works when other communication lines such as phones are inoperable. Although the club has visited many classrooms in different schools, Ms. Clow's special education group remains one of Mr. Lo Cicero's favorites. Using the ham radio to reach students such as Roberta Tuthill is most rewarding, he said. When the club previously visited her classroom, the 14-year-old refused to talk on the radio. In fact, she barely communicated with the visitors at all. Mr. Lo Cicero said he pulled his chair near her desk while other students took turns on the radio. Roberta just watched in silence. When they were ready to leave, he felt a tug on his sleeve, he said. In a voice barely above a whisper, Roberta asked to talk on the radio. On this recent visit, Roberta stood in line without prompting to take her turn. "My kids are very special," said Ms. Clow. "When the community comes together and does things like this for my kids, I'm very happy." The club offers free classes to teach Ham Radio and prepare people for the amateur radio licensing test. A ham can be 6 or 106 years old, said Mr. Lo Cicero. It takes a little time and effort, but the rewards are great. "This is not just a hobby, but a teaching and learning experience that will last a lifetime." For more information call John Lo Cicero at (386) 226-4618 or Frank Haas at (386) 238-1308, or go to www.dbara.org. Willard@hometownnewsol.com |
04.19.2007 Return to top of page
Some results of our Efforts DBARA’rs, Yesterday afternoon (4/5/07) John, K4TUG (ex KD5IBY); George WB4DVP and I gave another HAM Demo to Mrs. Clow’s class of special kids at the Campbell Middle School in Daytona Beach. The kids had a lot of fun and those of you who participated were responsible for ear to ear grins from all them. Mrs. Clow is a Ham, her callsign is KG4HQW. She got on the air to thank Rose, WA1VOP; Mike, KI4OSE; Bob, KI4UAJ, Cliff, KE4HIY; Bob, WA4IDI; Ed, AA1ED and Belinda, KI4QGG. Also present were a reporter and a photographer from the Hometown News. Look for the story in next week’s edition. John, George and I want to say a special thank you to each of the Hams who made this demo a success. The smiles in the classroom lit up a lot of lives, yours included. Thanks a million. 73 de Paul AB4PM 04.08.2007
^Top
The following e-mail message was sent by our Secretary, John LoCiero, K4TUG (ex KD5IBY), to every ham club in the USA that has a working mail box and some that did not. 03.02.2006 - As John receives replies back from people he forwards them to me. I am putting the replies in using two methods, if it is a first reply it goes to the end of the page. However, if it is a follow-up reply it goes to the bottom of that persons place space in the page. Outlook Express users have a gray line separating them from others on the header information. Those using "text only format" I highlight in bold italics to separate them from the others. [Bob-webmaster]
02.18.2006 - "bob we had 31 reply's back. i sent out 1442 email according to my count. so it looks with out doing the math about a 2% return which is pretty good when you figure most people don't read their email. Unless they really are expecting some thing most are like Tom and hate e-mail. But also figure a week or more for more returns I really thought i sent out a lot more than that or at least my finger felt that way!" John
John used Carolyn's e-mail address which lead to some minor confusion on the part of the responders but you just have to overlook that. Most of the header information was removed from the responders email to conserve space. Below is the letter that started it all.
^Top
Adopting a School Well here we are in a new electronic revolution, computers, I-Pods, and video games. How can amateur radio compete? How can Amateur radio survive? Kids have no interest in learning about ham radio. Ham radio is for grandpa or grandma- not for the kids. Kids have cell phones, I-Pods, computers, and little time for sitting around tuning a rig to a station half way around the world. For that matter, why learn that dit-dah dit-dah thing that’s old hat? Nobody uses that any more. Well like in nature when you lose one creature, you usually lose 5 more that depended on the fellow to keep those species alive. And technology is not any different.
The last ham fest I attended was a sea of gray and very few young folks were there. The ham club I am secretary of is also a sea of gray with the average age between 50 and 90. Our youngest and only young member is 30 years old. So what are we doing wrong as a community of communication? Maybe we need to get out there and go to grade schools, middle schools and high schools and offer our expertise and promote our hobby to the young children and teach them about amateur radio and where the technology came from for that cell phone or computer.
The ARRL has grants for schools to teach and set up ham radio stations right in the classrooms at no expense to the school or teachers. So why are we not out there promoting ham radio before it dies completely? Every club in America should adopt a school and donate a few hours of time giving these kids a chance to maybe talk to the astronauts, or a country that they may have never heard of. There is only a hand full of schools across this great land that currently use Amateur radio as a teaching aid in the classrooms.
The importance of amateur radio has been proven over and over in our communities across the country every year that has past since ham radio came into assistance. Hurricane Katrina was a good example of why we cannot let amateur radio pass away. So lets consider adopting a school as a club project.
Thank you & 73 K4TUG (ex KD5IBY) The Old Captain
^Top
Listed below are the replies he received in return. Some are very intriguing and interesting and if you pay attention there are some very obvious trends that show up. I am teaching a tech class of 11 explorer scouts starting March 1st. This is the first class that I have had since about 1995. I also have the local Conneaut Fire Chief signed up to take the course. Clarence Baugher W8FAS Sorry I didn't read each and every word but as I skimmed through your email I kept shaking my head "Yes". I'll re-read through your email later and look to incorporate it and any other thoughts you have. Our club here in Central Nebraska is dieing in two ways. It's getting older and the younger Hams (30-40 years olds) don't come. We are lucky if we get 12 people to show up for a meeting. Sorry I didn't read each and every word but as I skimmed through your email I kept shaking my head "Yes". I'll re-read through your email later and look to incorporate it and any other thoughts you have. Our club here in Central Nebraska is dieing in two ways. It's getting older and the younger Hams (30-40 years olds) don't come. We are lucky if we get 12 people to show up for a meeting.
Our club has already adopted a school and we have enlisted many young members. Don't be so pessimistic! There are some good things happening amongst the gloom and doom. Tnx for the interest! 73 Al K2AL President, New Providence Radio Club Carolyn, Thank you for your interest in Ham Radio --TODAY. You are correct, we are being lost in the world of modern technology.
I tried having code practice sessions on one of our local 2 mtr repeaters with no luck.
Very little interest.
I have been licensed for over 50 years now and operate 99 0/0 CW.
There are groups here in St. Louis that go to some of the High Schools and introduce Ham Radio to the students.
I also belong to the Mississippi Valley DX/Contest club (Secretary) and I believe our average member's age is 60 yrs old. HI
Well thanks for the e-mail and good luck
Rich KØGSV/KØAXU
From: "Glenn Thomas" <glennt@charter.net
An interesting editorial. I'm not sure how it happened to arrive in my
in-box because I don't think we've ever met. After asking around I was
able to figure out that it wasn't the usual run of spam and that you
have an excellent reputation in the Amateur radio community. Thus I
think a reasonable discussion of your thoughts is appropriate.
As I read your words, I recalled the Amateur radio club meeting I was
at last night. Paraphrasing you, "the last ham club meeting I attended
was a sea of gray, very few young folks were there." As the ARRL
Afficiated Club Coordinator here in Nevada and ARRL Section Manager in
SCV for 5 years before that, I've been to a lot of different clubs
over the last several years. Standing in the back of most of the
meetings I've attended, the "sea of gray" is the rule rather than the
exception. ...and that causes me concern as I believe it does you.
I think your characterization of Amateur radio as "...for grandpa or
grandma- not for the kids" and as "that dit-dah dit-dah thing that's
old hat? Nobody uses that any more" is mistaken. The "romance of
Amateur radio" that first attracted most of us is still there. It
hasn't died. What it has done is to move away from where it used to
be. The simple magic of being able to talk anywhere in the world is
now commonplace. However, there are still things that excite the
imagination.
Much of Amateur radio in the last 15 or 20 years has involved hooking
the radio to the computer and seeing what it will do. In the 1980's
packet radio and the PBBS system provided international e-mail to the
Amateur radio community a decade or more before e-mail, or indeed the
Internet itself, made its appearance to the general public. In the
1980's I exchanged packet-based e-mail with a high school friend who
had moved to Tokyo, Japan. Today, the newer digital modes, like psk31
and ODFM are continuing this trend.
Developing new methods of transferring more information, more reliably
via a noisy channel is one of the interesting areas in Amateur radio.
It's very "geeky". Communicating by bouncing signals off the moon or
other heavenly bodies is another. Did you know that it is just
possible to do Venus or even Mars bounce within the limitations of the
Amateur service? That hasn't happened yet, but physics says it's
possible, so it will eventually happen.
And what of the many opportunities for public service? In many cases,
Amateur radio was the *ONLY* form of communications that worked.
Apart from the big events like 9/11, Katrina and any of several
earthquakes, there are many unheralded smaller events where the only
thing that worked was Amateur radio. Some years ago, whenever the
California Department of Forestry found itself set up out in the
boonies, in a deep valley or canyon, where their agency radios were
ineffective, it was the Amateur radio service (in the guise of the VIP
program) who was able to step in and provide communications where
otherwise none would exist. There is very little that can match the
feeling of accomplishment after one has provided these critical public
services.
And of course, there's the simple joy of learning for the sake of
learning. A technical hobby like Amateur radio provides a very large
range of things to learn. Unlike many other technical avocations,
Amateur radio provides many opportunities to apply what one has
learned and see it manifested on a literally global stage.
Most recently, I've been enthralled by the magic of communicating via
"that di-dah di-dah" thing. Some friends and I have had nightly nets
on 80 meter CW the last couple of weeks, running close to 15 wpm or so,
and it's been a blast! There still is a lot of magic, not to mention
satisfaction, in hearing the beeps on the radio and seeing the words
take shape. I've not done much CW (outside of Field Day) for many
years. It's still as much fun as I remember it being.
It is important, as you've said, to get the kids interested in Amateur
radio. Before we can do that, we need to be very sure about what it is
we are interested in, very sure that we experience the romance of
radio ourselves. The way for us to become interesting is for us first
to become interested. Only then can reality overcome the fantasy of
video games, iPods etc.
73 de Glenn Thomas WB6W
ACC/Nevada
^Top Reply from Glenn Thomas:02.22.2006
Thanks. I've added a news article to the Nevada section web site
http://nv.arrl.org on this worthy and noble effort. Thanks for doing it.
73 de Glenn WB6W
>
Our club has made several attempts to establish programs in two of the schools in our area with no success. In each case, there was no person on staff at the school that had enough interest to champion the idea. No criticism of anyone; it just wasn't there. Without someone on staff to help, it doesn't seem feasible to maintain interest or secure a space in the facility for a station. Just our two cents. 73 Paul
Well, Captain, you're absolutely right about this. We need to encourage every club to at least make contact with the schools in their areas. It took us a long time to get into this situation, and it's going to take us a while to dig ourselves out, but we need to start working on this right now.
Dear Ms. Truesdale - Right On! We need to "propagate" what it is that we have to offer. I tried to start a radio club at a Church where I served as minister in Fort Lauderdale; we had 7 hams in the parish. The kids, though, only wanted to do things wth computers! I'd suggest we explain our gifts and I try to keep ham radio in the news here locally where I am an editorialist for the local paper. Not easy - but worth it. I look around at the hamfests (last attended Orlando) and noted the grey heads - including my own. I wonder if this isn't all right too- after all, they keep making old people too. I have nothing against our senior citizens, they make good amateurs and have some time if the interest can be generated; that's where we need exposure - we set up a ham station at our local "Sugar Fest" here in Clewiston (this is sugar country and it is an annual celebration for the community) - attracted some "live ones" and interested people- no kids, but solid contacts. Keep at it. Cordially - Sam Thomas, W3ALE, PIO, Big Lake Amateur Radio Club
From: "Alfred Laun" <hs0zar@gmail.com>
Thanks for your message to the NCDXA/ARRL Third Call Area Incoming QSL
Bureau. Though the Bureau is not involved in making policy regarding
the recruiting of new hams, we are of course interested in the
subject, as all licensed Radio Amateurs should be.
Your observation that kids are not interested in Morse Code, however,
is not borne out by my personal experience. A few years ago while I
was assisting in a Jamboree-on-the-Air demonstration at a local Boy
Scout camp, we were forced to shut down one of the three ham stations
we had operating because the cross-band interference from the other
two stations was wiping out our receiver. My colleague K3RA instead
began to teach the kids standing around how to send their names in
Morse Code using the electronic keyer at the station. The crowd of
kids grew and before long was much greater than the crowd observing
the two on-the-air stations. The kids seemed fascinated by their
hands-on experience with Morse.
Having said this, however, I don't disagree with the FCC's decision to
lessen the importance of Morse in the examination process. Times
change and Amateur Radio has to change with them. My personal opinion
on why there are so few kids coming into our hobby today is that there
are so many interests competing for kids' time these days. However I
should point out that the sorter for our Bureau for callsigns whose
suffix begin with "H", K3PD has been working with a local high school
where, in the most recent graduating class, 100% of the graduating
students had their ham licenses.
Thanks very much for your message.
Very 73,
Fred Laun, K3ZO Manager
NCDXA/ARRL Third Call Area Incoming QSL Bureau
^Top > Beat you to the punch on this one. The St Aloysius Big Project school
> is in its' third year. You can check them out at
> www.qsl.net/nbcg/radiokids.html . Feel free to share the link with any
> others that are looking for support or ideas as to how to start a school
> project.
>
> Buddy
Who at ARRL has the 'ding-dong' to get us going? I've got the 200 (K-12) kids .... over & 73, Pete (N1SS) // Peter M. Hurd
Director, Aerospace Science Laboratory
Greater Houlton Christian Academy
27 School Street
Houlton, MainE 04730
GHCA: 207 532-0736
Office: 207 532-2823
Remote Office: 207 532-7229
Mobile: 207 538-6789
Email: N1SS@ainop.com ^Top From: "mcoxk5mc" <mcoxk5mc@bellsouth.net>
> Thanks for your message. BTW, I recently got DSL and so my email
> address is > now mcoxk5mc@bellsouth.net (k5mc@arrl.org and k5mc@arrl.net also still > both work as well).
>
> I completely agree with you that ham radio should be a great
> educational tool for our schools, although many people will argue that
> the Internet makes this much less true than before. Our best approach
> might be to focus > on recruiting teachers to become hams so that they could then > introduce ham > radio into their own classrooms.
>
> Many astronauts are getting their ham tickets and the space
> shuttle/ISS connection should appeal to the schools for sure. Other
> obvious subjects connected to our hobby are geography, foreign
> languages/cultures, and especially science/engineering. The Morse
> code will appeal to a lot of kids > because it's a "secret" code that is easy for young people to learn.
> (Emphasing the digital modes to the kids is probably a waste of time
because > they do that everyday on their PCs!) I also believe that kids from
> about 10 > to 14 years old are the best to approach because they are old enough
> to understand the basic theory needed to pass the tests and are still
> young enough to easily learn the code, plus they haven't become too
> interested in > the opposite sex yet. (I was 13 when I got my ham ticket and so I'm > speaking from personal experience here!)
>
> It would be great if some hams and clubs would adopt one or more
> schools as > you suggest below. I've be mulling over for several years now about
> the educational aspects of our hobby and I would like to appoint
> someone to be the "educational czar" for ham radio in LA. This person
> could then try to recruit local hams and clubs to adopt their local
> schools. Do you have any good candidates that I could ask to serve in this capacity?
>
> Thanks again and 73,
> Mickey K5MC Carolyn, the Yankee Clipper Contest Club has already adopted a school. We have contributed to the Winn Brook School and its first grade class of “Hamsters” taught by Donna LaRoche, KB1LWY. The Winn Brook School now has a great station with an Icom IC-746Pro, Icom PW-1 linear amp and a SteppIR vertical plus wire antennas. We support the ARRL Foundation. And who are you? 73, George W1EBI Secretary, YCCC From: "brats" <brats@mymabb.com>
> Hi Mayer:
> You might be able to re-publish K4TUG (ex KD5IBY)'s e-mail in an upcoming issue of the Milliwatt.
> 73 Neil
>
> Baltimore Radio Amateur Television Society (BRATS) P.O. Box 5915
> Baltimore, MD 21282-5915
> (410) 461-0086 http://www.bratsatv.org brats@bratsatv.org
From: <rtfrench@umich.edu>
> Thank you for your comments, as President of UM-ARC I will be making > an effort. Of course I am a young person and the more I learn about> radio the more I realize it will benefit me as an engineer. We have> just received an ARRL Education and Technology Program Grant to build a > satellite station, which will be completed by the end of the semester.
> We hope to be pursuing the outreach we have promised when that is
> complete. Of course one of the problems I am dealing with is getting
> college students involved in the club .. its an uphill battle and we
> are going to be fighting it with you, 73
> --
> Richard T. French, KD8APA
> Undergraduate Aerospace Engineering
> University of Michigan
^Top From: "Gary Aden" <garyaden@yahoo.com>
> Besides being involved with S.C.ARES, I am the leader of a High > Adventure Crew ( www.v27.org ) and associated with a Boy Scout Troop > ( www.t27.org ). We use Ham radio for all of our outdoor adventures and > have shown it to be essential for good communications as well as> safety. We find many many youth are interested in Ham radio given the> opportunity. If you check out our ham radio club we have 31 young> hams ( www.v27.org/hamradio.asp ). They are not interested in talking> about "rigs" or "antennas" or "tuners" or "feed lines", but they are> interested in using the ham radio as a communications tool and they > love fox hunts. They also enjoy our formal net for training and then> the informal discussion after. It absolutely beats IM for fun> conversation. We made this happen by showing the usefulness of the> ham radio and by making testing opportunities available for them> (through Ross Petersons group - K6MPN.org). Ham radio is probably not> a favorite for the game playing couch potato, but it is for active
> youth. I am not sure how to do this by adopting a school because > there is not much need for normal school or home activities (everyone> has a cell phone) but any idea is worth considering.
>
> Sincerely,
> Gary Aden
> President, S.C.ARES &> Venturing Advisor
> Venture Crew 27
> San Mateo, CA
I wish I had the answer. Another big problem we have in our club is even get the older hams active. Most of them are playing on their computers also! 73 Mike K9MI I share you thoughts but I sum it up as “Walk the walk as well as talk the talk.” I wish more hams would do as you suggest. I feel that some times we are our own worst enemy. Mark Mark Spencer, WA8SME
ARRL Education and Technology Program Coordinator mspencer@arrl.org 530-495-9150 As the trustee of our college radio station, I am aware of the problem. It is difficult to explain to someone the importance of the amateur radio hobby. We take our lifestyles for granted, and want to participate in all the luxuries that exist. I explain that amateur radio is like fishing, and the internet is like going to the fish-market. I cannot seem to make it clear that someday the fish market may close, and that cell phones, internet, and other services may also be unreliable during difficult situations. Fishing is fun, and it may help you survive someday. Ed K9TZT ^Top
From: "Mona NY7P" <ny7p@comcast.net>
> Someone from another club forwarded this message. My experience is> very different:
>
> It is not kids that lack interest or enthusiasm about Ham radio, it's> the Hams themselves.> Kids love to learn if its fun. I worked with a group of 115 scouts > last month, mostly boys, but some girls. They were engaged and > interested. Some so much so that they wanted to know how they could> "get one of these in my room" (referring to an HF rig).
>
> The Montgomery Amateur Radio Club (MARC) invited scouts to our club > meeting a few nights ago. They had fun talking on the radio, and went> home and told their Moms that "repeaters are cool" and they liked > using "code words" (call signs).
>
> We have 25 people signed up for our March "General" license class. > Three of those interested are a dad and his two daughters (all technicians)
>
> We invited scouts to our last field day event. Two of them and their> Moms showed up. All of them, the boys and the Moms signed up for our> 2005 fall technician class. Although one scout and his Mom dropped > out, the other scout came with his Mom, and his Dad, and his brother!
>
> We have kids attend our last technician class (which had an interest > list of over 30 people). Four of them were under the age of 12. One> became interested because his Dad had a ticket, one because he was > interested after seeing our booth at a science day event, one because > he say our display at the Washington DC Digital Expo, and one because > he saw our class information on our website. One at a time is fine!
>
> Our club averages about 250 members each year. Many, many of them are
> professional working people and some of their kids are hams although > they don't attend many club meetings. When ever I hear a young person > on the repeater, I make it a point to talk to them and encourage them.
>
> We have a very special 17 year old club member that was the 2005 Teen> Jeopardy champ (N3CA). He is a major contester and puts us all to > shame! He is crazy about Ham radio and is a great ambassador.
>
> I have helped 9 boy scouts last year earn their radio merit badge in> Ham radio. And we had boy scouts help staff our science day exhibit > which definitely attracted very young kids. Even though most of the> kids were too young to understand ham radio and licensing in > particular, they enjoyed banging on the telegraph key to make noise> and thought it was funny to talk on the radio. They take their que > from us. Even if we plan a seed and they have fun, its worth it. This > year at science day they may remembers us. One little girl (about 6) > came back to our booth after about 15 minutes after she left and said> "I like Ham Radio" It was so cute... I could only reply "I do too!"
>
> I spoke to some girl scout "seniors" who were working on a special > interest project for emergency preparedness and that engagement lead> to me being asked to speak to about 60 people at a local Lions club.
>
> The opportunities are endless! We, the Hams, have got to show the > enthusiasm and interest in recruiting young, energetic new hams.
>
> Can we compete with the Internet, IPODS, etc.? Yes, how many kids have> their very own FCC licensed radio station in their own house and can> not only listen to the radio but talk back as well? When I mention > this to the kids they pay closer attention.
>
> Just curious, how much activity does your club engage in with the > young folks? Always interested in leads on areas we can focus!
>
> 73,
> Mona Singleton NY7P
> MARC President
> www.marcclub.org
^Top
We have talked about the situation of getting the younger generation involved in amateur radio here for several years. The responses that we get from the young people are the same with the cell phones etc. We have gotten a few questions and concerns when we talk to them about emergency situations like tornado, Ice storms, etc. but no real intrest. Our school here would probably set up an ARRL funded station, but they are wanting a resident teacher that is licensed to oversee the project. As of yet we have had no luck in that area. The Wheat Straw Amateur Radio club has dwindled from over 50 members to 8. All grey haired. Do you have any suggestions as maybe how to "force" the school program? Joseph - WA5FLT
We at the Peconic ARC are doing our part is encouraging youngsters in our community to become involved with amateur radio. We have now facilitated three school contacts with the ISS where kids from our schools, some of whom are club members, have helped with the setup and operations. Our kids are also very involved with community ARES activities, Field Day and Special Events run by our club. We have also conducted an intense license class that successfully resulted in several kids getting licensed. Attached are some photos showing the kids at work. 73 de Warren (WM2Z) PARC Secretary I'm a little confused, as this is signed K4TUG (ex KD5IBY) from Metairie, but received from Carolyn Truesdale with an address I recognize as a Central Florida email addy (I used to live in Melbourne & Tampa before transferring here to DFW with my job). I would like permission to use this in the Dallas ARC's newsletter, but I would need it from the originating party. And I would need it ASAP, as the newsletter is about to be published. If you can help with that, I'd appreciate it!! Thanks and 73 Joe Isabella, N3JI Dallas ARC Newsletter Editor & Webmaster
Sent: Wednesday, February 22, 2006 6:14 PM Very nice!! Thanks for the link. I'll copy you on the newsletter which I should have finished by the weekend. I assume you have seen our website, since you found our email address. I wonder if you noticed the amount of work we have done with Degolyer Elementary in Dallas. We have been graced with two excellent teachers there that have really embraced Amateur Radio and have gotten something like 50 or 60 kids and/or parents licensed (maybe more now, I honestly have lost count!!). They really have gone way above and beyond what I have seen from most educators, and have become somewhat of a legend around here. They were recently in the ARRL news for the contacts with the ISS -- it was really great seeing that. They've been planning it for months. Take care and thanks again!! From: "Jerry Jackson" <jerry@gaj.com >
> I am the chairperson for the hams in schools program here in > Austin, Texas. We have had some success in getting school clubs and> ham courses started here. It works well if you have a enthusiastic ham> in the school that is willing to sponsor the program. Unfortunately> not many schools have a ham on their staff. No ham, no class or ham club.
>
> Jerry Jackson, N5UJ
I Have a Problem with I-Pods, Cells, and the like, I was licensed in my late 20's, I happen to know about the ARRL school program, in fact, I'm sitting down with a school at their request-true, it's a NASA school, but as the DEC for District 2, of VT, I'm hoping that the kids in the junior high, can introduce their brothers & sisters, who are high school students, to it. True, I've had a little bit of an advantage, my grandpa was the family ham, but he was also the Chief Engineer at radio station WSNJ, in Bridgeton, NJ. Public Service, is a big thing, in our family. As for that thing called code, people do still use it, Thank God, it travels farther than voice, in an Emergency. Some people use it, just for fun. You aren't looking in the right place, for young hams, many hams I know, are in their 30's, but some are even younger You Don't Need to tell me what I Already Know..............However, Good Luck In Your Endeavors, 73, Mike Gruteke-K3BRJ DEC-District 2 ARRL #007078228
I assume that you got my email address from the ARRL database listing for the Lynn C Wilson Memorial Amateur Radio Venturing Crew 80. So, I'm hoping that you read all of the record. If you did you would have seen that we are a youth organization and if you investigated further you would have found our web site http://www.w3bsa.org.
You would have found that our organization is far beyond what you are suggesting.
If you didn't, you didn't do your homework very well. I request that you do your homework before you send out such emails as this, because there are many of us in the ranks of amateur radio that ARE making the effort to bring more youth into amateur radio. I would dare say that most of us are adult volunteers in the Boy Scouts of America who have worked with the youth of our country using a program that has served well for almost 100 years.
Sincerely,
William W. Stewart, W2BSA
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From: "John Sundstrom" sundstrj@gvsu.edu
I'll tell you my experience in trying to get the ARRL to do something about kids & schools: Our club decided to give subscriptions of QST to middle school libraries. We asked the ARRL (through our rep) to see if we could get a special subscription rate for just school libraries. At $39/pop, it pretty expensive. As you may have guessed, we got nowhere with the ARRL "grey heads".
Regards,
John Sundstrom N8YQD
Club Treasurer
North Ottawa ARC
From: "John Sundstrom" sundstrj@gvsu.edu
Sent: Thursday, February 23, 2006 5:55 AM
Hi John (Carolyn):
I read all the reply's on your web site. Interesting array of responses.
To expand on my previous message, our written Publicity (QST) is lacking in appeal to younger people. I wish it had more "zip".
John Sundstrom, Club Treasurer
North Ottawa ARC (Michigan)
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Hi,
Thanks for the idea on adopting a school. We will consider that idea however we have been trying to get schools involved and cannot find a teacher that would be interested in working with the project. Do you have any ideas? Thanks, Michael Kalter W8CI President DARA
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From: "Sean Barnes" <sbarnes@trinityhs.k12.pa.us>
Sent: Monday, February 27, 2006 9:28 AM
Excellent compilation of your thoughts.
I teach Physics at Trinity High School, in Camp Hill, PA. I have attached a Word document I wrote for QST this past late-November. I received a "rejection for publication in QST", and I have yet to submit it elsewhere. I need to update it, since another 14 students are now licensed.
CQ published one I wrote in Jan of 2005. I'll try them next, or World Radio.
I opened the file and highlighted a paragraph on the 2nd page.
Otherwise, I have not touched the original draft of the article. Your "Adopting a School" article fits in EXACTLY with what is happening in the Harrisburg PA area.
I have presented my ideas at the American Association of Physics Teachers, Central PA Section meeting. But implementing Amateur Radio into the class is not just a 1-day lab, or even a simple 1-week module. The key is to "rope" a local science-minded teacher from a school into the hobby, and then support his/her implementation.
Step 1: Adopt the teacher.
This is the key step to adopting the school. Physics teachers are a logical choice. And smaller schools are easier than larger schools, since smaller school only have one physics teacher that needs to be convinced :)
We physics teachers LOVE to learn. They might already be busy as a coach, or moderator of a rocket-club, or something like that. Maybe the "Technology" teacher would be the next best quick-sell.
Or, maybe the person in charge of the stage-crew. Lots of microphones and wires here.
I also moderate an Astronomy club. Is there a moderator of a school-club that focuses on these science topics? (Astro, quiz-bowl, computer, model-rocket or airplane)
I like the way you think with your article. Please keep up the lobbying.
What's your callsign, by the way?
Now, I need to keep the dominos falling, and go out and find another local teacher!
73
Sean Barnes, N3JQ
Trinity HS, N3THS
48NewHams.doc 48NewHams.wpd 48NewHams.pdf 02.27.2006
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From: "Sean Barnes" <sbarnes@trinityhs.k12.pa.us>
Sent: Thursday, March 02, 2006 6:40 AM
John,
I had found your web-site, and printed out the responses. I briefly read some of them, and will formally read them all.
I think QST needs a formal section dedicated to schools with amateur radio. This would be the information and ammunition that our U.S. clubs need to see to prompt them to get their own local schools to do similarly. Its also good for those of us aging up to see the incoming youth being featured.
I met Mark Spencer at the Dayton Hamvention last year. I was very impressed with his sincere educational involvement. But like you said, he can't do it alone from the national office.
The out-pouring I've received locally is something real ham operators can appreciate. All true ham operators want to provide help. Whether its pulling a dusty rig off a shelf and donating it to the club, or buying a new one for us, or helping put up an antenna, or making that first contact for one of the high schoolers go smoothly on the air, or even coming into the school to speak to my classes. Its like all I did was pull a pebble out of the ham-radio dam, and I became flooded with help.
We just need to get that first pebble pulled. And I firmly believe that pebble is the teacher at the school. Thanks for your positive attitude toward this subject.
73
Sean Barnes, N3JQ
Physics Teacher at Trinity High School, N3THS, Camp Hill, PA
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Updated:
Monday, August 18, 2008
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